Power-generating mechanism



July lv 1924, 1,500,051

J. C. CALDWELL POWER GENERAT ING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lili:

July 1924.

J. c. CALDWELL POWER GENERATING MECHANISM @hmmag J. c. CALDWELL POWER GENERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 John/ C. Calcvelj SHOM/w14 Ju'y 1, 1924. 1.500,051

L J. C.`CALDWELL -POWER GENEHATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l'I I' III I I 'l I l 1 ,A a L N` V 0;?

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Patented July l, 1924i.

JOI-IN C. CALDNELL,

Application filed November 2, 1921.

T all lwhom t may Concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN C. CaLDwnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miami, in the county of Dade and State orn Florida, have invented certain ne and usetul improvements in Power-Generating lti'lechanism, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to water motors and more particularly to an improved device whereby electrical or mechanical energy may be derived from a current ot running water in a stream and converted to diilerent uses.

The primary object oit the invention is l5 the construction ot a vtioating barge wherein a plurality or' parallel rows of proipellers are mounted for rotation by the current or" a stream or' running water in such manner that the power derived may be communicated to a single or a plurality of rotating shafts and produce electrical or mechanical energy on the barge proper, permitting said energy to be communicated to some distant point as the case may be. A still further and very important object of the invention is the construction of a` water motor o't the class above set forth, wherein the barge is provided with a plu rality of parallel tunnels having propellers mounted therein to be driven by the current from a ruiming stream for instance, including a heating arrangement disposed between the parallel rows of tunnels, whereby the ice accumulation may be avoided when the motor is used in cold weather.

Another and very important object of the invention. is the construction and arrangement of a barge having a power generating mechanism soI that the `mechanical or electrical power derived trom a running stream of water may be communicated to some distant point or the barge itself converted into a work shop, whereby continuous power may be had at all times and at the lowest possible cost.

A continued object o'l' the invention is the construction of a power generating barge capable of use wherever power may be derived from a running stream of water and one in which the parts are extremely simple in construction, easily assembled, rigid and durable, highly etlicient in operation, practical and capable oit being manufactured at a very low cost, whereby its commercial possibilities are greatly enhanced.

The invention will be best understood E MIAM, FLORIDA.

EOWER-GENERATING MECHANISM.

Serial No. 512,370.

from a consieeration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not contine'd to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as eX- pressed in the subject matter being claimed.

l attain the above objects and others by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view through the barge showing` the brake mechanism and drive wheels for the propellers. f

Figure 2 is a similar longitudinal view showing the arrangement of the propeller wheels.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse, sectional view showing the power operating mechanism in its relation with the propeller shaft and wheel.

Figure i is. a sectional view taken on the line 4 1 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a further section taken on the line 5 5 of F igre 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 3.

Figure Tis a view taken on the-line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a detail view, partly in section of the compresse-d air system for operating the brake mechanism; and

Figure 9 is a perspective of a key.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, I have shown my invention wherein the power operating mechanism is preferably installed on a suitable iioating barge having a top 5, 'front and rear ends 6, 7 and a central flooring 8, dividing the barge into an upper story 9 and a lower story or compartment 10. The lower story, abo-ve referred to, as well as theuppe-r story, is provided with inner walls 11, 12, extending longitudinally of the body of the barge and in the lower section thereof I have provided a plurality of tunnels designated at 13,14, in which the propellers and propeller shaft operate, whereby power may be communicated and generated from the current of a running stream. The bottom iiooring 15 is connected with the side walls 16, and that por tion of the iiooring between theparallel tunnels is provided with inclined beams throughout the entire length of the barge shown at 17, 18, so 'that the current of the stream will be directed to the respective tunnels and consequently rotate the propellers on the operatingI mechanism, now to be described in detail.

lVithin each tunnel above referred to, I have provided a plurality of propellers and propeller shafts 20, 2l, journalled between the inner walls 1l, l2, and inner-partitions or walls 22, said propcllers being of substantial width but permitting sufficient clearance between the walls of the tunnels for their proper operation, yet permitting the passage of refuse and other matter beneath the barge which might accumulate therein. I have preferably provided each propeller shaft with ten blades, so that at least 3 of the same will be at all times immersed in the stream but normally the water line TW will be at a point just below the propeller shaft as suggested by Figure 5 of the drawing.

The central air passages 22 between each of the adjacent tunnels are provided with heaters 23 with upwardly extending, radiating pipes 24 leading into the respective tunnels so that in cold weather the propellers or blades may receive sutliciient heat so as to prevent the accumulation of ice thereon and consequently avoid the clogging of the tunnels with ice due to the spray of the stream, which might otherwise prevent the operation of the propeller blades.

Each propeller shaft 201 is provided with a drive wheel 25 which communicates power to a line shaft 26 journalled in bearings in the sides of the barge through a pulley and belt arrangement 2S, 29. The line shaft also carries a rotatable pulley 30 and belt 3l, whereby the dynamo 32 positioned at one side and preferably in a compartment 33, adjacent the side wall of the barge is operated, so that the electrical energy may be generated and conducted to some distant point through suit-able wiring, not shown. It will thus be seen from this construction that I have provided a simple and highly eficient operating mechanism, where-by the current from a stream may generate electrical power so that the saine may be conducted and utilized wherever desired at any distant point or to a mill or factory adjacent the stream and thus dispense with the necessity of erecting al dam or` other highly expensive power operating machinery of a permanent character.

In addition to generating electrical power, the apparatus also contemplates the generation of mechanical power through aligned pulleys 35, 3G, on the line shaft 26 and a sec- Y ond `line shaft 37, disposed in the upper story of the barge, the respective pulleys being driven by a belt 88, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. An electrical motor 38 and the usual variable speed pulleys and belt arrangement 3S), 4() are operably connected with the shaft 37 through the clutch and clutch lever 41, 42, whereby any suitable type of tool may be driven and for this reason mounts for tools designated by 43 are secured on the tiooring of the upper story, thus permitting the barge to be converted into a machine shop or plant, whereby continuous rotary power may be utilized to operate the machinery.

Referring now in particular to Figure 4 of the drawing, it will be observed that each drive wheel 25 is provided with a crank arm 44, connected to a crank shaft 45, one end of said crank shaft being connected by an actuating member 4G, pivotally connected as at 47 to a slide rod 48, operable in a suitable guide 49 positioned adjacent a. compressed air cylinder 50. The hooked end 5l of the `slide rod (see Fig. 8) is adapted for engagement with a spring latch 52, normally held by the spring in engagement with the said. slide rod 48.

This latch is carried by the cross head which is connected to the piston rod 54, whereby the piston rod 54 may operate and force the air through the proper valves 55, 5G to be utilized in operatingthe brake mechanism, subsequently to be referred to. A longitudinally extending brake rod 57 has connected thereto the brake members 58, pivoted as shown at 59 so that when the brake rod 57 is actuated the said brake members will engage the brake drums G() on the shaft 21 and consequently limit the rotation thereof. Referring in particular to Figure 8, it will be observed that one end of the brake rod 57 operates in a cylinder 62, so that when t-he valve G3 is raised from its seat the compressed air will act on the piston head of the brake rod 57 and force the same rearwardly, consequently moving the braking members 58, above referred to. To release the braking mech- .anism the valve 63 is moved into its seat and the pet cock G5 is opened, an exhaust port 6G being provided for the obvious purpose. lVhen the tank 50 has been properly charged with the compressed air and it is desired to disconnect the piston 54, the key 67 is inserted and bearing against the end of the latch. member 52 against the resistance of the spring will raise the hooked end of the said latch and disengage the same from the sliding member 48, so that the same may operate without moving the said piston rod 54. In this manner it will be readily seen that the operation of the drive wheels 25 afford means for maintaining a compressed air storage tank continually charged and permit of the utilization of the compressed air for operating different kinds of machinery, wherever so desired.

ln the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my invention embodied in one form .by way of example, and which in practice has been found to be highly satisfactory in obtaining the desired results. lt will be obvio-us however, that other embodiments may be adapted, and that various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is furthermore understood that the invention is not necessarily limited or restricted to the precise elements shown except in so far as sueh limitations are specified in the subject matter being claimed.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I lclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pate-nt is:

l. A power generating mechanism in combination with a barge having a plurality of tunnels in the bottoni thereof, the tunnels having their lower ends open to permit the free flow of water therethrough, horizonu tal propeller shafts and propellers mounted thereon, operable in the tunnels by a eurrent of water, means for heating said tunnels, drive wheels on each end of the propeller shafts, common line shafts and a pulley and beltmechanism for driving said line shafts from the drive wheels, a second line shaft driven by eaeh of the first mentioned line shafts, means for producing compressed air by the rotation of the propeller shafts Iand means for releasing said oompressed air to vary the speed of rotation of the respective line shafts.

2. In a means for generating power from flowing streams, a single barge having a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending spaced channels formed therein having their lower ends open for permitting the free flow of water therethrough, closed passageways arranged between the channels, a plurality of transversely aligned water wheels mounted in said Channels, means for connecting the transversely aligned water wheels together, means for operating a pluralityT of independent line shaft-s from the mea-ns for connecting the transversely aligned water wheels together, means opera tively Connecting the water wheels disposed in longitudinal alignment together, means for operating a compressed air motor from the longitudinally aligned water wheels, heaters disposed in said closed passageways between the channels, and oppositely extending heat conveying pipes connected with the heater and arranged to communicate with said channels.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. CALDVELL. lVitnesses B. P. CRownLL, E. A. PRICE. 

